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Telecommunications
Arizona
Broadband
Federal Broadband Grant Program
The U.S. Congress has appropriated $7.2 billion to develop broadband in
the U.S. for unserved and underserved areas.
Broadband grants are being awarded by two federal agencies: The U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Services (RUS) Broadband
Initiatives Program (BIP) ($2.5 billion); and the NTIA Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP). ($4.7 billion).
This funding includes grants for broadband infrastructure, computer
centers, sustainable projects that promote broadband use; and grants to
the states for broadband planning and for mapping broadband in their
respective states to use in the creation a national broadband map.
GITA Receives Broadband Mapping and Planning Federal Grant
Arizona has received a $2.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of
Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
The funding comes in two grants which will be managed by Arizona's
Government Information Technology Agency (GITA).
The first grant is for approximately $1.8 million over a two-year period
for broadband data collection and mapping activities. The second grant
is for approximately $500,000 over a three-year period for the purpose
of broadband planning and determining future broadband needs.
The broadband mapping project will collect and verify the availability,
speed and location of broadband across Arizona. This information will be
publicly available; updated on a semi-annual basis through 2011.
Citizens, local governments, and related research organizations will
enjoy a direct benefit from access to this new and additional
information.
First Round Arizona Broadband Grants Being Awarded
The first round of grant funding announcements are in progress and
expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2010.
A grant for the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
Division for $1.3 million was awarded and will provide more than 1,000
computers to 84 libraries throughout the state of Arizona. This grant
allows Arizona's libraries to extend their reach to more than 450,000
previously underserved citizens of Arizona.
Second Round Funding
The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) and USDA’s Rural Utility Services (RUS) have
announced second round funding availability of $4.8 billion in ARRA
grants and loans to expand broadband access and adoption in America.
Complete information is available on the federal website:
broadbandusa.gov. The agencies plan to accept applications from February
16, 2010, to March 15, 2010, and announce all awards by September 30,
2010.
Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee
Governors have been asked by the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities
Program (BTOP) to provide advice and suggested priorities for broadband
grant applications in their respective state. Approximately 107 grant
requests were received for Arizona in the first round of funding.
In response, the Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee (ABAC) was formed
to provide expertise and advice to the Governor's office on broadband
grant applications. ABAC consists of a representative from ten different
state agencies with the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA)
serving as the lead agency and its Director and State CIO Chad
Kirkpatrick serving as chairman.
Governor Jan Brewer considered the information and advice of ABAC before
forwarding her final recommendations to the U.S. Department of
Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
For further information see:
www.broadbandusa.gov.
Telecommunications Leadership
GITA provides strategic oversight and leadership to develop advanced
telecommunications (Broadband) service and infrastructure throughout
Arizona. Major goals of the telecommunications program include:
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Establish and coordinate statewide telecommunications policy.
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Bring together public and private entities to address shared
telecommunications interests.
Assist the planning for public and private telecommunications
systems.
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Study, evaluate and advise state agencies, the legislature,
institutions of higher education, tribes and local governments on
matters of telecommunications policy, including services and
systems, and telecommunications procurement practices.
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Coordinate telecommunications grant requests to the federal
government.
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Participate in national discussions about telecommunications
infrastructure and issues and coordinate public and private sector
conversations and plans concerning innovative telecommunications
projects, programs and demonstrations.
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Advocate economic development issues relating to telecommunications.
Rural broadband
development
GITA has been involved in several initiatives to encourage the development
of telecommunication infrastructure in rural areas of the State. In
these partnerships, GITA utilizes the award winning Telecommunication
Open Partnership of Arizona (TOPAZ) to guide agency interactions in
telecommunication projects throughout the State. TOPAZ encourages State
and local government organizations to actively partner with, and be the
anchor tenant for, private sector broadband infrastructure build-out
projects.
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee (CIAC)
GITA provides staffing support and strategic direction to the Arizona
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee. This Public/Private
committee is part of the Governor’s Council on Innovation and Technology
(GCIT). The CIAC focuses on the issues related to the ubiquitous
deployment of Broadband capability to all of Arizona. Key issues include
Middle Mile, Last Mile, Right-of-Way and definition funding solutions.
Current efforts are concentrated on Rural Arizona along with other
deficit areas in both Urban and Rural settings.
Arizona GIS Broadband Survey
GITA’s intent for this
Broadband Assessment Geographic Information System (GIS) Study -
completed January 2009, is as a Phase1 step toward a full GIS Survey of
Arizona’s broadband infrastructure. A completed Survey will provide
Arizona’s decision makers details about Broadband capacities and
deficits areas across Arizona’s landscape, leading to better decisions
about broadband deployment, economic development, the digital delivery
of education, health care and government services, statewide.
In the Information Age, knowing the availability or deficits of
Broadband infrastructure in a particular area is critical for decisions
about quality of life for that area. We believe the Study to be the most
current view of what is happening nationally regarding implementation
strategies for Broadband surveys, and general Broadband policies in the
States. It is our hope that others can benefit from this Study and
thereby move closer to the goal of ubiquitous Broadband availability.
Web Links
Last updated:
02/24/2010 |
12-23-09:
Governor Brewer Announces Broadband Mapping Stimulus Award (PDF)
Governor Brewer’s Office of Economic
Recovery
Arizona
Broadband Advisory Committee
Rural broadband
development
Communications Infrastructure Advisory Committee (CIAC)
Arizona GIS Broadband Survey
Web Links
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Broadband Telecommunications
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